How Often. Do nasal saline rinses when your child can't breathe through the nose.

Limit. If under 1 year old, no more than 4 times per day or before every feeding.

Saline nose drops or spray can be bought in any drugstore. No prescription is needed.

Saline nose drops can also be made at home. Use ½ teaspoon (2 mL) of table salt. Stir the salt into 1 cup (8 ounces or 240 mL) of warm water. Use bottled water or boiled water to make saline nose drops.

Other option: use a warm shower to loosen mucus. Breathe in the moist air, then blow each nostril.

For young children, can also use a wet cotton swab to remove sticky mucus.

Medicines for Flu:

Cold Medicines. Don't give any drugstore cold or cough medicines to young children. They are not approved by the FDA under 6 years. Reasons: not safe and can cause serious side effects. Also, they are not helpful. They can't remove dried mucus from the nose. Nasal saline works best.

Allergy Medicines. They are not helpful, unless your child also has nasal allergies. They can also help an allergic cough.

No Antibiotics. Antibiotics are not helpful for flu. Antibiotics may be used if your child gets an ear or sinus infection.

Homemade Cough Medicine:

Goal: Decrease the irritation or tickle in the throat that causes a dry cough.

Age 3 months to 1 year: give warm clear fluids to treat the cough. Examples are apple juice and lemonade. Amount: use a dose of 1-3 teaspoons (5-15 mL). Give 4 times per day when coughing. Caution: do not use honey until 1 year old.

Age 1 year and older: use Honey ½ to 1 teaspoon (2-5 mL) as needed. It works as a homemade cough medicine. It can thin the secretions and loosen the cough. If you don't have any honey, you can use corn syrup.

Age 6 years and older: use Cough Drops to decrease the tickle in the throat. If you don't have any, you can use hard candy. Avoid cough drops before 6 years. Reason: risk of choking.

Sore Throat Pain Relief:

Age over 1 year. Can sip warm fluids such as chicken broth or apple juice. Some children prefer cold foods such as popsicles or ice cream.

Age over 6 years. Can also suck on hard candy or lollipops. Butterscotch seems to help.

Age over 8 years. Can also gargle. Use warm water with a little table salt added. A liquid antacid can be added instead of salt. Use Mylanta or the store brand. No prescription is needed.

Medicated throat sprays or lozenges are generally not helpful.

Fluids - Offer More:

Try to get your child to drink lots of fluids.

Goal: Keep your child well hydrated.

It also will thin out the mucus discharge from the nose.

It also loosens up any phlegm in the lungs. Then it's easier to cough up.